Facebook could launch its first Smartwatch in the market soon. The social media company is gearing up to unveil its smartwatch with dual cameras and heart rate monitor by next summer.
The tech giant’s first smartwatch will reportedly feature a 1080p camera for video calling. It is expected to sport another camera on the back, which will make it different from the Apple smartwatch. Backed by Android’s custom version, the smart wearable will feature a heart rate monitor, and support LTE connectivity. As per the report, it will be available in white, black, and gold, color options. With the smartwatch, Facebook is targeting sales in the “low six figures”.
The upcoming device will feature a display with two cameras that can be detached from the wrist for taking pictures and videos that can be shared across Facebook’s suite of apps, including Instagram.
Facebook is tapping other companies to create accessories for attaching the camera hub to things like backpacks, according to two people familiar with the project, both of whom requested anonymity to speak without Facebook’s permission.
The company has developed the first-generation model after spending around $1 billion and is already working with second and third generations for subsequent launches. This addition to Facebook’s portfolio will allow it to release hardware that is directly available to its customers while also paving a way for another competition with Apple’s App Store.
The idea is to encourage owners of the watch to use it in ways that smartphones are used now. It’s part of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s plan to build more consumer devices that circumvent Apple and Google, the two dominant mobile phone platform creators.
Facebook is working with the top wireless carriers in the US to support LTE connectivity in the watch, meaning it won’t need to be paired with a phone to work, and sell it in their stores, the people familiar with the matter said.
In future versions of the watch, Facebook is planning for it to serve as a key input device for its planned augmented reality glasses. The company plans to use technology it acquired from CTRL-labs, a startup that has demonstrated armbands capable of controlling a computer through wrist movements.
Facebook aims to release the first version of the watch in the summer of 2022 and is already working on second and third generations for subsequent years.
As far as the pricing is concerned, The Verge said that the smartwatch could be priced around USD 400 (Rs 29,000 roughly). However, nothing has been confirmed so far.
